Butuan city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office (FO) - Caraga, has bolstered local livelihoods in Butuan City by providing a steady income source to 30 local food vendors under the agency's Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

According to Philippines News Agency, the food vendors, organized under the Butuan United Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (BUSLPA), received capital grants amounting to PHP900,000 through the SLP. This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to implement developmental programs aiding vulnerable citizens.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao announced that the program enabled the vendors to establish a night market, enhancing their income and promoting local tourism. The market offers a variety of food and produce, along with evening entertainment, providing a platform for vendors to showcase their products.

DSWD FO Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga, alongside Butuan City Mayor Lawrence Lemuel Fortun, inaugurated the night market on May 2. Dollaga encouraged the association members to meet all program requirements within the first year to qualify for additional funding, emphasizing the importance of enterprise growth.

Mayor Fortun pledged his full support for the initiative, promising free training to enhance the vendors' entrepreneurial skills. He announced plans to establish a Micro Small Entrepreneurs Academy, offering training in financial literacy, innovation, and product marketing at no cost.

BUSLPA president Ronnie Mondejar expressed gratitude to the local government and the DSWD for their support, vowing to maximize the opportunity provided.

The SLP is a DSWD capability-building program aimed at improving participants' socio-economic status through Micro-enterprise Development (MD) and Employment Facilitation (EF) tracks, offering livelihood opportunities to qualified vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors in the Philippines.